Get more vitamin C for a longer life, study says

You may know that vitamin C has several health benefits, including boosting the immune system, but a new study shows that it may actually help you live longer. According to the study, conducted in Denmark, having high levels of vitamin C in the bloodstream may help guard against cardiovascular disease.

Vitamin C's antioxidant properties repair cell damage and provide key support for building tissue and absorbing iron. The human body can't produce or store vitamin C on its own, so eating enough fruits and vegetables is the best way to get enough of this key vitamin.

The study involved government health records for about 100,000 Danish citizens, including information on diet, exercise patterns, health diagnoses, income and other important factors. By examining rates of heart disease compared to vitamin C levels, the researchers found that people who had high circulating levels of vitamin C in their blood were less likely to develop heart disease or to die early from any cause.

"We can see that those with the highest intake of fruit and vegetables have a 15% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and a 20% lower risk of early death compared with those who very rarely eat fruit and vegetables," said Dr. Camilla Kobylecki of Herlev and Gentofte Hospital. "At the same time, we can see that the reduced risk is related to high vitamin C concentrations in the blood from the fruit and vegetables."

The researchers also found that people who had high naturally occurring vitamin C levels in their blood had the same results as those who ate a lot of fruits and vegetables.

For more information about aging longevity, contact the Longevity Centres of America today.